The News: Alphabet Wing and Walmart recently announced they are teaming up to offer drone delivery from two stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex this year. A Walmart Supercenter in Frisco will be the first to offer drone delivery with a second Walmart store nearby to launch drone delivery service by the end of 2023, according to Wing CFO Shannon Nash. Wing is a subsidiary of Google parent company Alphabet. Read the Press Release on Walmart’s website.
Alphabet Wing and Walmart Partner for Dallas Drone Delivery
Analyst Take: With the announcement from Alphabet Wing and Walmart, drone delivery will soon be available from two stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Since Walmart’s launch of its drone delivery service 2 years ago, Walmart has grown the service across seven states and 36 stores, completing more than 10,000 safe deliveries. A Walmart Supercenter in Frisco will be the first to offer drone delivery with a second Walmart store nearby to launch drone delivery service by the end of 2023, according to Nash. The addition of the drone delivery service from two Walmart stores in the Dallas metro area will enable Walmart to reach an additional 60,000 homes, according to Walmart.
“This is an exciting next step for our customers, as it provides even more access to a convenient, innovative and – most importantly – super speedy way to get the items they need,” said Prathibha Rajashekhar, Walmart U.S. SVP of innovation and automation.
Alphabet Wing Drone Delivery
Alphabet Wing will make deliveries to homes within 6 miles of the Dallas metro area stores, with deliveries arriving “in under 30 minutes.” Although Alphabet Wing says the drones are “highly automated,” operators will still keep an eye on them from a remote location. Alphabet Wing says it is working with Walmart “to offer everything from full lunches to quick afternoon snacks or over-the-counter medicines.” The drones can even deliver a carton of eggs, as the tether its drones use is gentle enough to transport “delicate items.” Alphabet Wing, which describes itself as the world’s first on-demand drone delivery service direct to homes and businesses, is available on three continents to deliver food, goods, medicine, and parcels via drone. According to Alphabet Wing’s website, the service has made 350,000 commercial drone deliveries in 10 locations across three continents.
Alphabet Wing reports the drones are largely automated and monitored remotely. Wing’s technology allows operators to oversee the system from a remote location, which means pilots won’t need to be stationed at stores or customer homes. The aircraft essentially fly themselves, so each operator is approved to safely oversee many drones at the same time.
Alphabet Wing recently unveiled its new logistics systems that allow drones to initiate pickups and deliveries without having to return to an originating base. In 2022, it kicked off its drone delivery service in Dallas to deliver items from Walgreens, Blue Bell Creameries, and other stores. It also partnered with DoorDash to deliver food orders in Australia. Once the drone delivery service launches, Alphabet Wing will offer deliveries from Walmart 6 days per week (excluding Wednesdays) from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
How to Determine Eligibility
Those living in the Dallas-Fort Worth area can download the Wing Drone Delivery App from the App Store or Google Play, then create an account and enter their address. If customers see a “Coming Soon” message, it means they are ready to order on Day 1. If the app says a customer is not eligible, if the customer lives in the right area, they just need to keep checking back.
Disclosure: The Futurum Group is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.
Analysis and opinions expressed herein are specific to the analyst individually and data and other information that might have been provided for validation, not those of The Futurum Group as a whole
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Image Credit: Walmart
Author Information
Clint brings over 20 years of market research and consulting experience, focused on emerging technology markets. He was co-founder and CEO of Dash Network, an integrated research and digital media firm focused on the CX market, which was acquired by The Futurum Group in 2022. He previously founded Tractica with a focus on human interaction with technology, including coverage of AI, user interface technologies, advanced computing, and other emerging sectors. Acquired by Informa Group, Clint served as Chief Research Officer for Informa’s research division, Omdia, with management and content strategy responsibility, formed by the combination of Tractica, Ovum, IHS Markit Technology, and Heavy Reading.
Clint was previously the founder and President of Pike Research, a leading market intelligence firm focused on the global clean technology industry, which was acquired by Navigant Consulting where he was Managing Director of the Navigant Research business.
Prior to Pike Research, Clint was Chief Research Officer at ABI Research, a New York-based industry analyst firm concentrating on the impact of emerging technologies on global consumer and business markets.
Clint holds a Master of Business Administration in Telecommunications Management from the University of Dallas and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Washington & Lee University.
